Millionaire menswear boss accused of threatening to shoot employee challenges gun licence refusal

A millionaire menswear firm owner once accused of threatening to shoot a staff member is appealing against the Met Police’s decision to refuse him a shotgun licence.

Kristian Ferner Robson, 50, the owner of luxury brand Oliver Brown, appeared at the Old Bailey yesterday for a hearing to set the date of his appeal against the refusal by Mark Rowley, the Met Commissioner.

Judge Richard Marks KC, the Common Serjeant of London, fixed it for June 4 before Judge Mark Dennis KC.

Mr Robson’s company is the official licensee to Royal Ascot, and was the official supplier of formal wear for Team GB at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

It has clients including actor Damian Lewis and singer Sam Smith.

Mr Robson arrived for the Old Bailey hearing wearing a navy suit and glasses and carrying a cycling helmet.

In 2022, an employment tribunal heard Mr Robson had allegedly threatened to shoot Jerome Ingle-Smith, an assistant manager at the company, following the launch of Oliver Brown’s Jermyn Street store in November 2021.

He was said to have accused Mr Ingle-Smith of “gatecrashing” a pirate party and eating off a VIP’s plate.

Guests at the launch in November 2021 included the Marquess of Blandford, Alexander Spencer-Churchill, Freddy Knatchbull and Lord and Lady Brocket.

Mr Ingle-Smith was not invited to an after-party at the restaurant Isabel Mayfair, but turned up uninvited after getting drunk, the tribunal heard.

When Mr Ingle-Smith refused to leave, Mr Robson threatened to kill him, saying: “I will beat the s--- out of you” and “I will f------ shoot you”, it was claimed.

Security was called after the row began.

After resigning over the threats the following morning, Mr Ingle-Smith won compensation when he sued Oliver Brown for constructive dismissal.